Posts

Reading the Highland Villager #221

Image
[A Villager tries to navigate the TJ's parking lot.] [Basically the problem is that the best source of Saint Paul streets & sidewalks news is the Highland Villager, a very fine and historical newspaper. This wouldn't be a problem, except that its not available online. You basically have to live in or frequent Saint Paul to read it. Until this newspaper goes online, sidewalk information must be set free. See also:  Three Reasons Why I Re-Blog the Highland Villager .] Headline: Council to hear arguments over $15 minimum wage mandate Author: Jane McClure Short short version: The City Council will [did] deliberate over whether and/or how to raise the city's minimum wage.  [Note: this passed. The long long phase-in really waters it down IMO. In eight years $15 an hour will mean much less than it does today.] Article includes a chart. Headline: City staff question changes to Ford master plan; Ryan Cos.' amendments to original master plan face some opposition Author: Jane

Signs of the Times #146

Image
COME INSIDE Unusual & Neat things for sale [Window. Troy, NY.]   SAINT ATRIPPINA'S FEAST [Paul Revere. Boston, MA.]  YARD CLOSED [Door. Boston, MA.]  NOTICE PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW PETS IN FENCED IN AREA. SPRING BULBS PLANTED BY THE CHILDREN OF THE 4th GRADE ELLIOT SCHOOL. THANK YOU. [Fence. Boston, MA.]  LOST MEDIUM DOG ELDERLY REWARD [Pole. Northeast Ohio.]  FLOWER Basketts ROSES [Wood. Northeast Ohio.]  LOST CAT My name is Zuma and I am lost. Please call my humans if you find me. [Pole. Medford, MA.]  PLEASE DO NOT PUT TRASH IN THIS BUCKET (ONLY CIGARETT) BUTS [Flowerpot. Medford, MA.] CLOSED FOR REPAIRS [Fountain. Downtown, Minneapolis.]

Twin City Neon #25

Image
 [Seattle, WA.]  [Seattle, WA.]   [Seattle, WA.]   [Seattle, WA.]   [Seattle, WA.]  [Location forgotten.]  [Location forgotten.] [Troy, NY.]

Twin City Doorways #43

Image
 [Linden Hills, Minneapolis.] [New York City, NY.]  [Payne/Phalen, Saint Paul.]  [East 7th Street, Saint Paul.]   [New York City , NY.]   [New York City , NY .]   [New York City , NY .] [New York City, NY.]

The Complete Complex Relationship between Senator Klobuchar and the Minneapolis Skyway

Image
[Thanks to Dylan for digging this up.] Minnesota's Senior Senator, Amy Klobuchar, was on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert the other night to plug the upcoming election. On air, the very same seat where Governor Jesse Ventura once impugned the integrity of the Saint Paul street grid , Senator Klobuchar, who once publicly poked fun at my article about TVs in Minneapolis bars , admitted to having a complex historical connection with the Minneapolis skyway system. Here is the complete transcript, along with the historical documentation and video evidence.. Stephen Colbert: Let's check your Minnesota cred. Have you ever been immortalized in butter at the MN state fair?  Senator Klobuchar: That is like your Mount Rushmore. For our audience here. What we have at the state fair is a butter carver who sits in her down coat in a revolving refrigerator and carves princess kay of the mile way and her 10 princesses out of butter and does their butter bust, which is of course their heads,

New Saint Paul and Northeast Minneapolis Flags Available, including a Bannerless 1932 Version

Image
[Pure and simple! The way Gladys made her.] Despite what they say, I am not immune to the principles of vexillology. I understand the futility of having type on a flag designed to be viewed from two sides. That's why I am proud to announce that I have some "OG" 1932 Gladys Mittle Edition Saint Paul flags in stock, where the Saint Paul crest is shown without the Windsor font "SAINT PAUL" banner. They're available in the small 2' by 3' size, on sale for $16. I also have some new  Saint Paul and Northeast Minneapolis large size 3' by 5' flags in stock as well! Get yours today, for the low price of $36. Click on these links to learn more about the long mysterious history of the Saint Paul flag, or the history of the Northeast Minneapolis flag . [Compare and contrast with banner and with cat.]

Notable Quotes #12: Mark Twain describes Saint Paul and Minneapolis, c. 1883

Image
We reached St. Paul, at the head of navigation of the Mississippi, and there our voyage of two thousand miles from New Orleans ended. It is about a ten-day trip by steamer. It can probably be done quicker by rail. I judge so because I know that one may go by rail from St. Louis to Hannibal�a distance of at least a hundred and twenty miles�in seven hours. This is better than walking; unless one is in a hurry. The season being far advanced when we were in New Orleans, the roses and magnolia blossoms were falling; but here in St. Paul it was the snow, In New Orleans we had caught an occasional withering breath from over a crater, apparently; here in St. Paul we caught a frequent benumbing one from over a glacier, apparently. But I wander from my theme. St. Paul is a wonderful town. It is put together in solid blocks of honest brick and stone, and has the air of intending to stay. Its post-office was established thirty-six years ago; and by and by, when the postmaster received a letter, he